Linear traveling wave tube amplifier utilizing input drive limiter for optimization
First Claim
1. An traveling wave tube amplifier system, comprising:
- a traveling wave tube amplifier;
a detector for dynamically producing a detector signal proportional to an average power of an input signal and substantially independent from a peak power of the input signal; and
an attenuator in communication with the detector and said traveling wave tube amplifier, for dynamically attenuating the input signal according to the detector signal.
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Abstract
A linearized traveling wave tube amplifier with average power limiter is disclosed. The device includes an average power limiter for the purpose of preventing a TWT from operating at output powers higher than the required operating point. The device includes a detector for dynamically producing a detector signal proportional to an average power of an input signal and substantially independent from a peak power of the input signal, and an attenuator, in communication with the detector and the amplifier, for dynamically attenuating the input signal according to the detector signal. The limiter allows the TWTs to be optimized for performance at the required operating point, resulting in higher efficiency, and eliminates the need to size the amplifier for a power level any larger than the required operating point which reduces the cost and complexity of the system. The limiter protects the TWT while not degrading the linear performance of the TWT by limiting the average power while allowing peak powers of short duration to pass with low loss.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An traveling wave tube amplifier system, comprising:
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a traveling wave tube amplifier;
a detector for dynamically producing a detector signal proportional to an average power of an input signal and substantially independent from a peak power of the input signal; and
an attenuator in communication with the detector and said traveling wave tube amplifier, for dynamically attenuating the input signal according to the detector signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of processing an input signal of a traveling wave tube amplifier, comprising the steps of:
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dynamically determining a value proportional to an average power of the input signal and substantially independent from a peak power of the input signal of a traveling wave tube amplifier;
dynamically attenuating the input signal according to the value; and
applying the dynamically attenuated input signal to a traveling wave tube amplifier to produce an output signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
rectifying the input signal; and
low-pass filtering the rectified input signal.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of rectifying the output signal comprises the step of passing the signal through a diode.
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16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of low pass filtering the rectified input signal comprises the step of passing the rectified amplifier signal through a low pass filter comprising a capacitive element coupled in parallel with a resistive element.
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17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of low pass filtering the rectified input signal comprises the step of producing a detector output signal lagging the input signal according to a first order time constant.
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18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first order time constant is chosen to prevent damage to the amplifier.
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19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first order time constant is between 10 microseconds and 1 millisecond.
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20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of low pass filtering the rectified input signal comprises the step of producing a detector output signal lagging the input signal according to a multiple order time constant.
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21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of shunting the input signal according to the rectified and low pass filtered input signal comprises the step of applying the rectified and low pass filtered input signal to a gate of a field effect transistor (FET).
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22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of predistortion linearizing the input signal.
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23. A signal embodied in a carrier wave in an output signal of a traveling wave tube amplifier, the signal produced by performing the method steps of:
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dynamically determining a value proportional to an average power of an input signal of a traveling wave amplifier and substantially independent form a peak power of the input signal;
dynamically attenuating the input signal according to the value; and
applying the dynamically attenuated input signal to a traveling wave tube amplifier to produce an output signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
rectifying the input signal; and
low-pass filtering the rectified input signal.
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26. The signal of claim 25, wherein the method step of rectifying the amplifier output signal comprises the method step of passing the input signal through a diode.
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27. The signal of claim 26, wherein the method step of low pass filtering the rectified amplifier signal comprises the method step of passing the rectified amplifier signal through a low pass filter comprising a capacitive element coupled in parallel with a resistive element.
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28. The signal of claim 25, wherein the method step of low pass filtering the rectified input signal comprises the method step of producing a detector output signal lagging the input signal according to a first order time constant.
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29. The signal of claim 25, wherein the first order time constant is chosen to prevent damage to the amplifier.
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30. The signal of claim 29, wherein the first order time constant is between 10 microsecond and 1 millisecond.
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31. The signal of claim 25, wherein the method step of low pass filtering the rectified input signal comprises the method step of producing a detector output signal lagging the input signal according to a multiple order time constant.
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32. The signal of claim 23, wherein the method step of shunting the input signal according to the rectified and low pass filtered input signal comprises the method step of applying the rectified and low pass filtered input signal to a gate of a field effect transistor (FET).
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33. The signal of claim 25, wherein the method steps further comprise the step of predistortion linearizing the input signal.
Specification